Refrigerator constructions



Aug. 28, 1956 L. A. VALENTI 2,760,349

REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTIONS Filed May 27, 1954 FIC-5.5

INVENTOR LOUIS AVALENTI ATTORNEY" ilnited States Patent REFRIGERATORCONSTRUCTIONS Louis A. Valenti, Worcester, Mass.

Application May 27, 1954, Serial No. 432,709

8 Claims. (Cl. 62-117.45)

This invention relates to new and improved refrigerator constructionswhich provide for a high degree of saving of refrigerating space andalso in room space wherever installed, particularly in the kitchen of ahome.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a space-saving refrigerator construction, wherein the refrigeratorbox is enabled to be set with its back squarely against a Wall andrequires no spacing around it in any way, so that cabinets may be builtdown to the top of the box, and in fact the entire box may be completelyrecessed in a wall; and the provision of a space-saving refrigerator asabove stated wherein the entire interior of the refrigerator is madeuseful for storage purposes, the working mechanism being locatedexteriorly of the refrigerator and specifically below the same, beinginset in the oor and depending between the rafters of the ceiling below.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a mechanicalrefrigerator having a compressor unit located in movable relationshipwith respect to an aperture in the oor of the refrigerator box, so thatthe same may be mounted and shipped within the refrigerator box forconvenience and protection thereof, but when the refrigerator isinstalled, the complete unit is dropped through this aperture, said unithaving a top flange cr cap by which it is held in flush relationshipwith the oor of the refrigerator and depending below the same betweenthe rafters of the ceiling of the floor below or in the cellar of thehome.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of inducedcirculating air exhaust means below the compressor unit and thus whollybelow the floor supporting the box7 for making the circulated air usefulfor heating in winter in the oor below, and capable of avoiding heatingin the summer; making the refrigerator solidly positioned on the floorand against the wall, so that the box does not shake when the door isopened and closed, etc.; the provision against any compressor noise, andthe provision of a refrigerator as above stated which maintains thesurrounding atmosphere, for instance the kitchen and under the box,cleaner and more free of dust, etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l isa perspective view showing the improved refrigerator with the door openand located in position on the oor and against a wall, parts beingbroken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale illustrating the lowerportion of the refrigerator box of Fig. l and appurtenant structure;

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, looking in the direction of arrow 4 inFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale similar to Fig. 4 butwith the fan ceiling grill removed;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, looking in the direction of arrow 6 in Fig. 2;and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the compressor mechanism inposition for shipment.

Conventional refrigerators must be located in spaced relation from awall at the back and at the top in order to provide for air circulation,and this invention obviates this condition, thus providing for betteruse of space and the saving of wall space, floor space, and enlargingthe effective capacity of the refrigerator. As illustrated in Fig. l, arefrigerator box 1i? is shown as largely conventional in generalappearance and having a door 12 for closing the same. In this case, theevaporator for the refrigerator may be located at the top portion 14,which is conveniently used as a freezing compartment. The refrigeratorbox 10 is located in flat abutment against the wall 16 and is located onthe iloor 1S. ln this figure, the oor 18 is broken away to illustraterafters 2i) for the oor below or in the ceiling of the cellar of thedomestic house under the kitchen.

The box 10 is insulated in the usual manner but is provided with a lowerange 22 which is adapted to contact the floor 18 and efectively enclosea chamber 24 within the contines of the box such as illustrated in Fig.2. This chamber provides a space between the supporting lloor 18 and thebottom 26 of the box 1G, and this space accommodates a exible loop ofpipes or hoses 23 which provide refrigeration and defrosting materials.These hoses are led under the floor 26 to a side wall of the box asillustrated at 30 whence they are directed upwardly to the evaporator.

Hoses 28 issue from a housing 32 and it is to be understood that thehousing 32, the pipes 28, and the conventional evaporating unit, whichis not shown, are all parts of one unit which are installed and may beremoved frorn the box as a unit. The loop in the pipes 2S allows fordisposition of the housing 32 in either the lower operative position ofFigs. l and 2 or the upper shipping position of Fig. 7. Housing 32 ispreferably at or near the front of the box for installation convenience,but the housing may be located anywhere desired.

The housing 32 is provided with a ilange or cap 34 which supports thesame in the lowermost position thereof on a gasket 36 located in arecess in the oor 26. When the unit 32 is in its uppermost position ofFig. 7, it is supported upon a pair of rotatable supporting brackets 38swung inwardly to support the unit in Fig. 7 and swung outwardly toallow the unit to descend in Fig. 2.

The unit 32 contains a compressor preferably of the dome typeillustrated at 40 (see Fig. 3), the same having a drip-pan below it at42 providing for evaporation of defrosted water and also providing apartial condensing medium as for instance in the pipe 44. The unit 32also includes a junction box 46 which is permanently installed thereinand which is used to control the operation of the compressor. A plug 4Sis provided in a side wall of the housing 32 for providing electricenergy for an air-circulating fan 50 to be later described. Of coursethe box 46 is provided with convenient flexible electric conduit meansfor supplying energy thereto.

The bottom of housing 32 is Substantially open with the exception of thedrip-pan 42 and is adapted to be closed by a ceiling fan grill 52 whichis fastened to a pair of adjacent rafters 20 by any desired fasteningmeans as for instance the brackets 54. The fan 50 is mounted on theupright wall 56 and this wall is telescopically arranged with referenceto the housing 32 for accommodating different widths of rafters 20.

The fan grill 52 is provided with openings 58 located oppositely to aswivel outlet 60 and these openings provide for'circulation of coolingair for the condenser by means of the fan 50, and a partition or baftle51 directs theeir dow es lthrough en opening 5.3 adieeent Ythe ten, seeFig. 3. Y

The swivelout-let .60 may be supplied `with a `hose for leading theheated air to an exterior location with regard to the building forsummer-time use, so .as to reduire nnwanted heat and to allow air,conditioning .apparatus ,if present to zoperate more satisfactorily.This hose will ,of course be removed for winteretimeuse to allow a florof heated air into the room below the refrigerator and by turning .theswivel 60, this heated eirfrnnyy be -direeted where desired. The ,fan isprovided with an eleetric line o2 to plng into 'the outlet 48, so es toderive power there# from but it is contemplated that thermos-tatie meanswill be provided ,for preventing the tan from operating Until the air inthe housing has reached a .comfortable ten-i,- Perntore .for providingthe flow of heated lnr referred te :for winter-time use.

In order to remove the pipes 28 as a unit, a removable portion .64 isprovided in the floor 26 .of the box and con.- yentional removablestrips as at 66 may be provided for removing the entire hose and alsothe evaporator, not shown.

When the refrigerator is shipped from the factory, the unit 32 is in theFig. 7 position, in which the rim 2 2 extends below it and protects it.Any means necessary may beused to hold the unit in this position,

When the installation is to be made, the hole in the Voor 13 is rstprepared, the brackets 3,8 4are turned to allow the unit 32 to descendthrough the hole in the floor, .and then the fan grill is applied andtelesCOPd upwardly .to the extent necessary as shown in Fig. 2. Thedevice is now ready for operation vand as a very important feature ofthis invention it will be seen that there is no mechanism within the boxand that the entire capacity of the refrigerator is made useful.Furthermore, the back .of the box is plane and butted directly upagainst the Wall 16 and as a matter of fact cabinets may be built in allaround the box at the top and the sides. There is no compressor noisenoticeable because it occurs below the floor, the heat from thecompressor is utilized t the most ecient advantage both for summer andwinter and never enters the room Where the box is located, the box maybe made square at the top if desired, there is no wabble Yof the boxwhen the door is opened and closed, and the air circulated being belowthe floor does not draw in dust at one side and expel it at the other asin conventional refrigerators, so that the kitchen is maintained muchcleaner.

Among the other advantages of the invention, the novel refrigerator maybe installed in any variable standard structnre or building withoutaltering any structural members such as floor joists, outside wallfoundation, etc., the cost is maintained at or near the level of presentconventional refrigerators, both as to manufacture and for installationso far as the consumer is concerned, having in mind the advantagesattendant upon the new construction; the new unit makes use of unwantedor unused space and is operable more conveniently, making use of acooler atmosphere for increased eiciency, and in general any survicingwhich might be necessary to the mechanical parts will be much easier todo and less annoying to the service man, or the consumer.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, l do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

' l. Arefrigerator adapted to be set on a supporting door vandcomprising an insulated box having a floor, an evaporating device in thebox, a compressor and condensing unit, a iiexible hose connecting theunit to the evaporator ,et all. times .Seid inrit being eelieeonteinedand selectively located to depend from the door of the box therebelow orto be located wholly within the box, means to hold said unit in selectedposition, and means providing for circulation of waste heated air fromthe condenser below the refrigerator floor, said means including ahousing, means to telescopingly adjust the housing with respect to theunit, said housing having a position beneath the supporting oor.

2. A refrigerator adapted to ybe set on a supporting door and comprisingen insulated bon, ,en evnporating device therein, a compressor andcondensing unit connected to the evaporator, said unit -beingself-contained and located to depend lfrom the floor v-of the boxexteriorly therebelow, means to hold said unit in dependent position,means providing for circulation of waste heated air from the condenserbelow the supporting floor for the refrigerator, said air-circulatingmeans comprising a separate fan grill housing, means for telescoping,the ysame relative to said unit for relative adjustment ot the height.of the tan grill housing ,relative .to the supporting floor, wherebythe fan housing may be independently secured inoperative positionrelative to said unit, and means to secure the fan grill housing inadjusted position, said fan exhausting waste heated lair from the unitto the atmosphere below the supporting oor.

3. A refrigerator adapted to be kset on a supporting floor andcomprising an insulated box, an evaporating device therein, a compressorand condensing unit .connected to the evaporator, said unit beingself-contained and located to depend from the floor V,of the box,exteriorly therebelow, means to hold said unit in dependent position,and means .providing for circulation of waste heeded air from theCondenser below the supporting floor for the refrigerator,said'air-circulating means comprising e seperate fan grill housing,means for teleseoping the seine relative to said unit for relativeadjustment of the height of the -fan grill housing `relative to thesupporting floor, whereby the fan housing may be independently securedin koperative position relative to .said unit, a fan in seid fanhousing, means .for directing lthe heated air to disposition whollybelow said iloor, and means to secure the fan housing in adjustedrelation to the unit,

4 A refrigerater adapted to be set on a Supporting floor and`eornpris.ing en insulated box, en evaporating device therein, acompressor and condensing unit conneeteii to the evaporator, seid nuitbeing YSeli-een.tained and located `to depend from the floor of the boxexteriorly therebelow, ineens te hold Seid unit in dependent position,ineens. providing for yCirculation of waste heated nir troni the-eondenser below the supporting door for the refrigerator, seidgir-circulating menus comprising .a Separate fan grill housing, meansfor teleseoping fthe sanne relative to Said unit, the fan housingreceiving the i waste heated air from the unit, means to secure the fanhousing in operative position relative to said unit, a fan in said fanhousing, means for directing the waste heated air blown by the fan todisposition below said floor, said last-named means providing for a hoseCQD.' nection for iiow of the heated air to a remote point orselectively for removal of the hose to direct the heated air to Athearea below the refrigerator supporting doen 5. A refrigerator adapted tobe set on a supporting iioor and comprising an insulated box adapted fordisposition llatly against the wall of a building where located, anaperture in the bottom of said box, a compressor and condenser unit, ahousing for said unit, Asaid housing being located generally in saidaperture, the entire bottom' of the box at the interior thereof beingflat, a top plate, the top plate and refrigerator iloor being flush,suspending the housing from the refrigerator iloor, a fan grill housingfor application to the lower end of said first-named housing, and meansfor fastening the fan grill housing in position to the ceiling below theoor upon which the refrigerator stands, an evaporator at the upper endof the box and hose connections for the evaporator, said first-namedunit being removable with the evaporator as a single unit relative tothe box.

6. A refrigerator comprising an insulated box having side Walls and aiioor, an opening in the oor, a compressor and condenser unit, a housingtherefor, means on said housing suspending the same in said opening,means on the housing closing the opening flush with the floor of thebox, and means for holding said unit substantially exterior of the boxin dependent condition relative thereto, a fan housing having an opentop for telescopic reception with respect to the lower end of the unit,said fan housing receiving waste heated air from the unit, a fan forblowing the waste heated air out of the fan housing to the atmosphere,and means on said fan housing for securing the same to an externalsupport.

7. A refrigerator for disposition on a supporting oor and comprising aninsulated box having side walls and a iioor, an opening in the floor, acompressor and condenser unit, a housing therefor, means on said housingsuspending the same in said opening, a plate on the housing closing theopening, the plate being ush with the box oor at the interior thereof,means for holding said unit substantially within the box in raisedcondition relative thereto, a fan housing having an open top fortelescopic reception with respect to the lower end of the unit, means onsaid fan housing for securing the same externally of the box, and a rimsurrounding the box below the bottom thereof for close engagement withthe floor upon which the box is supported, said rim providing fordust-proof installation under the bottom of the box, said fan housingreceiving waste heated air from the unit and discharging the same belowthe supporting floor.

8. A refrigerator for disposition on a supporting floor and comprisingan insulated box having side walls and a floor, an opening in the oor, acompressor and condenser unit, a housing therefor, means on said housingsuspending the same in said opening, means on the housing closing theopening flush with the oor of the box, means for holding said unitsubstantially exterior of the box in dependent condition relativethereto, said housing having an open bottom, a fan housing having anopen top for telescopic reception with respect to the lower end of theunit, said fan housing receiving waste heated air from the unit, a fanfor blowing the Waste heated air out of the fan housing to theatmosphere, and means on said fan housing for securing the same to anexternal support, and means directing cool air in at one side of the fanhousing, all below the said box supporting oor and out of contact withthe atmosphere in which the box is located.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,825,870 King Oct. 6, 1931 2,035,653 Haskell Mar. 31, 1936 2,204,401Butler June 11, 1940 2,245,234 Tanner June l0, 1941 2,480,510 Roper Aug.30, 1949 2,576,549 Wagner et a1. Nov. 27, 1951

